Carter, the Ritualist

My tattoos were completed once again. My trump card was already known by the audience, and more than likely my opponent as well. I was healthy enough to take another beating, but the goal was to survive. My opponent will be Isaac, the Drinker. I clapped my hands over my face, realizing I was about to get my ass wrecked.

I mean really, all the man had to do was point his cane at me, and it'd be over. I didn't know any rituals to nullify blood magic, and the man I was about to fight can clearly still kick ass. He didn't even flinch when that fucking demon came out of nowhere! I let out a loud groan, knowing that yielding once the fight started was an option, but my pride wouldn't let me. I needed to at least get a hit in, even if Robert told me to yield. I rubbed my head, the conflict getting to me.

It was the smart choice, just drop everything and walk away. Still I wouldn't be able to live it down, not after picking up a short sword to use in this battle. I took a couple breaths realizing I only had fukuma tats, it was possible to avoid some damage, but I needed to be smart about it. I closed my eyes, trying to think about what I could actually do here. What was the point of fighting it, and not doing what Robert told me to?

The answer came to me as the gate opened. It's because I still had something to prove. I won my last fight by sheer luck, and my opponent being dumb enough to toy with me. I still had a couple darts left, so I might be able to manage it somehow. The goal was to not die, and prove to myself that ritual magic could stand up to the other magic types. The boss saw potential in me, and I wasn't going to disappoint her by lowering my head and yielding. They wanted me to be accepted into Kobe's gang. The best way to do that was to show I was still in fighting shape so they'd take me right away.

I walked out into the arena to face the old man patiently waiting in his spot. The announcer reminding the crowd that I was the one that slew Shepard, that I might be coming back out to claim a second champion. Isaac merely stroked his beard, his eyes moving over me as I stood before him. Finally he tilted his head, while the announcer continued talking, "I'm afraid I haven't seen those tattoos before. Do you mind telling me what they do?" He smirked a little.

I smiled back, hiding how nervous I felt. "It's much better if I show you during the fight." The gong sounded as we stood there.

Isaac turned suddenly, making me jump back, while he laughed and started to pace around me. "I'll ask you the same question as the last man I fought. Do you want me to go easy on you?" The audience was quiet while the ones with sharper ears told those around themselves what Isaac just said.

I lowered my head, not taking my eyes off him. "No, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I won because you decided to hold back."

Isaac raised his head to look at the ceiling with a smile, still stroking his beard. "Ah, I can admire that youthful recklessness of yours. Don't worry though, it would be a waste to kill you, so how about a promise?"

I turned towards him, to face him more directly, sword drawn, "A promise?"

Isaac pointed at me, swirling his finger. I felt light headed, "I promise not to use my blood magic to knock you out or manipulate your blood. In exchange you promise to not use those black blood darts you have hidden away."

I swallowed hard, and with a sigh took off my robes again, folding them around the darts while the audience stared in shock. My tattoos were different, and the wounds Shepard left me with were only faded scars. Isaac himself tilted his head in surprise. "Was that because of the regeneration you had earlier, or did somebody heal you?"

I smirked, "I'm not a part of the Minotaur yet, and while I don't know a lot, I don't plan on betraying the people that took me in. Just know we have one really good healer."

Isaac nodded slowly, "Oh? I thought the boy named Ace was a good healer. Are you telling me there is someone better?"

I gritted my teeth a little, before nodding. "Yeah, our boss heals better than Ace can. If you plan on interrogating me, why not wait until after the match is over?" I mentally kicked myself for almost giving everything away.

Isaac paced a bit more, "Don't worry, I'm just relieved there are such capable healers in the world. It's much better for us to have agreeable relations with someone that can cure black blood and regrow limbs." He pointed a thumb over to Kobe who was watching from his throne, "The big man is curious to know just who can fix you up so quickly. Well unless this is," he gestured to my entire body, "just a lie."

I smirked back at him, "What, don't believe your magic old man?"

He chuckled lightly, "No, sometimes I just feel so old that I'm worried I might be losing my mind. Tell me, what was your mother's name? I'm trying to remember if I saw you before, since I can use your blood so freely."

"Fuck you, both my parents are dead, and I have better things to do then tell you their names." This clearly wasn't the reaction he wanted to hear as he lowered his head.

"Then please, by all means, come at me. I'll beat the manners into you." He seemed to flex, his muscles moving in an unnatural way. His posture straightening as his bones cracked and he stood up. The cane that was a deep red seemed to turn a darker color of brown, while Isaac's muscles bulged and his sagging skin seemed to cling to those same muscles.

I stared at him in shock, realizing that he absorbed all the stored blood from his staff. "W-what are you doing?" It was a grotesque transformation that I couldn't pull my eyes away from.

Isaac himself just smiled, "I said I wouldn't use blood magic on you, but I didn't make the same promise about myself. Flesh, blood, muscles, and fat all can be influenced by blood magic itself. The only difference is that null magic would potentially kill me right now. Though I doubt I have to worry about that from you."

He looked down at me, while I focused on my tattoos. All he did was make himself a bigger target. I charged at him, while he moved to block the sword with one of his enlarged forearms, the blood and skin rushing there to make it seem like a disgusting melon. He leaned back the flesh moving around the blade when I tried to use the claws of the fukuma. I wanted to go through his arm, teleporting the blade into his skull, but he caught my hand with his other, his grip making me cry out.

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Isaac, The Drinker

There was no doubt about it, when he got this close. He used his magic, and I could feel it in his blood. Carter was related to me. His blood came from my own, and that was why I was able to manipulate it so easily. I faked him out by pretending to want to block the blade with muscle and blood, but he was an idiot for thinking I'd actually let any kind of magic touch me. Especially if I didn't know what it was. Probably inherited from his father.

I gripped his hand harder, while he cried out in pain, squeezing pressure points with my fingers, forcing him to drop the sword which I kicked away. I threw the young man backwards with ease, every drop of blood having left my cane afforded me quite the boost to strength with my magic backing my blood. The man rolled, getting back on his feet, as he check his hand. He was fine, even if his wrists were a little sore. I just needed a moment to collect my thoughts.

How did it happen? When was this child born? He said his parents were dead, that she was dead... I spent so long searching for my little girl after she ran away, and now her son was fighting me. My grandson was fighting me... He looked at me with anger, before taking stock of the situation. I could see he had her eyes, and my lack of hair. Other parts of him tainted by a man I never even knew. Still this was my flesh and blood before me.

Carter as he was called chose to run towards the sword. I took a few steps to strike him in the side, but magic flared in his veins again. The tattoos lighting up as my punch went completely through him. His tattoos receded, suggesting that he could only cast such three more times this fight before it was gone. It certainly was flashy, and it impressed the audience wonderfully.

Carter dived towards the sword after avoiding my strike, rolling and landing back on his feet. He pointed the tip at me, defiant anger in his eyes. The same kind that his mother gave me when I said she couldn't make the Underground a better place. Why, oh why did they both have to be ritualists? What kind of dark god conspired to make me endure something so tragic?

A deep pain echoed with every beat of my heart. I wanted nothing more than to ask how my sweet girl died, what gang took her, and who his father was. I wanted to cry for the first time in such a long time. The past ten years I spent my life trying to accomplish her dreams, hoping to find out just what happened. I wanted so much to apologize to her, to tell her that I would help her like I should have done before she ran away. I dedicated my life to helping the 'good men and women' live just a little longer. To become their best and achieve her dream of making this place, just a little better before I died.

Carter charged at me, aiming to run me through with his sword. I couldn't cry here, I couldn't lose here, and I couldn't die here. I furrowed my brow, coming to a conclusion. Carter would never truly know our relationship, after all I was never there for him before. I would help him grow as best I can, something I should have done a life time ago for her. When he was close enough, I spun my heels, avoiding the sword and reaching for his forearm.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

My hand phased through it, as his tattoos receded. Carter himself was being practical, jumping over my foot while I swept it towards his own to trip him. They boy certainly was good at jumping and rolling, I had to give him that. He landed on the other side of me, swinging his sword with all the momentum he could. I raised my arm catching him on the side of the head, my blood freezing. I had expected him to avoid the strike and put a little more force than I meant to. Then I felt a sharp pain in my thigh, as I looked down to see the sword embedded in the muscle.

Carter flew and skidded a few feet in the sand, bleeding from his ear completely knocked out but still bleeding. He managed to hurt me, while I pulled the sword out of my thigh no cuts around the blade as if it pierced straight through the flesh and muscle. I was going to be walking with a limp for a couple weeks, but the pain of using blood magic was much higher than this. I sealed Carter's wounds, and then my own the blood flying off the blade and healing me so I wasn't in any danger of bleeding out.

I felt the boy's skull with his blood, relieved that it was only a minor fracture that could be mended by a proper healer. The announcer declared my victory as I raised my hands to the cheering crowd. Ace and his pet came in to retrieve the man, but I stood in front of them. "My apologies, but I'll see to it that the man is healed." Gesturing to Kobe he smirked, before nodding.

Ace smirked, looking at Carter then back at me. "I thought we agreed on a week, why the sudden change of heart?" Judging by the slight smirk, the kid knew this might happen, even if he didn't know about what I found out during the fight.

I let out a small sigh, "Fine, you got me it was supposed to be a bit of down time, but I'm impressed with how fast your group can heal its people. I'll have to talk it over with my boss, but I think he'll agree to a few terms for taking him in early. At least let us treat him, if you want you can have somebody watching over him so you know we didn't do anything to him."

Ace scratched his chin, before shrugging, "That's fine, we don't need anyone to watch him. I trust that won't cause any problems?"

I looked at the monster behind the boy, slowly nodding my head. "Of course, as long as she doesn't cause any trouble." I was surprised by how trusting he was, though it probably meant Carter himself likely didn't know anything too important as far as they were concerned.

The vice snapped his fingers, and the monster picked Carter up gently. Clearly understanding how to tend to someone that was wounded. I looked back to see Ace had grabbed my cane, and was bringing it to me. I smiled at him, "Thank you for that, youngster. Please follow me to the infirmary." I led the way, channeling my blood back into my cane, limping with every step.

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Firefist Ace (Richard Adams)

It took a good five minutes to get Carter to the infirmary after following after Isaac. The old man was hobbling with every step, his leg not properly healed yet. Still we were on the other side of the Arena, the place that only big names, and those related to Kobe's gang could go. It felt a little underwhelming considering everything that happened, but it at least looked nicer than the bland walls the 'challengers' had to stick around in.

There were more than a few slaves moving around the place, and even a few gang members proudly bearing Kobe's banner. One of the thugs approached us after Mimi set Carter down, "Ace, sir, the boss requests your presence."

I wasn't used to anyone giving me this level of respect. It was honestly kind of scary to go from some nobody, to a person that grunts like this were going out of their way to be polite. I tilted my head back, to look up at the guy in question. "Thanks bud, I trust there won't be a problem if I bring my pet along?" I still hated calling Mimi that, but she helped to soothe me.

The thug blinked for a second before nodding, "Uh... yeah. As long as it doesn't cause trouble. Um... is it true that you can heal people sir?"

I shrugged, "I don't do it for free and I got better shit to do than heal another gang's people. Tell you what though, you keep Carter here, "I gestured to the man who was being healed, "safe and I'll hear you out. I'm a busy man with a lot of things to tend to, but I know how bad it sucks to not be able to get a cure for what you or somebody you care for needs. If you can do that for me, I'll stick around after the final round for an hour or so."

The man quickly nodded his head, "Thank you sir!" That got a couple other people talking, as they parted out of our way. I noticed a couple of slaves quickly running in the direction of Kobe's throne, and we walked after them. I could feel Mimi was a little disappointed. I just shrugged it off, since helping people couldn't be wrong, right?

It took us a couple minutes to climb the stairs to Kobe's platform and throne. He was sitting on the chair while the slaves stood off to the side with their heads bowed. Kobe had his fingers interlocked over his chest, one leg crossed over the other. He looked down at me, completely ignoring Mimi. He let out a small snort, "So, I just heard you promised to stick around for an hour after everything is over. That you'd hear about some things my healers couldn't fix?"

Mimi nudged me forward, and I had to focus to keep my cool. The guy was intimidating after all. Still I took a few steps towards him, meeting his eyes, "Yeah, I said that. Got a problem with it?"

Kobe raised a brow, leaning back on his throne. "I might, you don't strike me as a dumb man, so I'll let you explain why you said that. Oh, and do think very carefully about what you're going to say." His voice was low, casual even. Still I saw his tail flick, and I felt I had done something to upset him.

I took a small breath to steady myself, "Our goals align." This made him tilt his head, as he was clearly interested in what I was about to tell him. I crossed my arms, staring back into his eyes. "My boss plans on getting big, very fast. Our gang is going to grow, and we don't want you to think we have any intention of fighting your gang. We'll respect your borders because you protect the people in the Underground, and the walls above."

Kobe snorted, "You're suggesting we work together? I can't tell whether you're smart or stupid now. What exactly can your gang offer that we couldn't take by force?"

I shrugged, "Well for starters my boss won't heal people unless he feels like it. Kind of a requirement for how his healing works."

Kobe smirked, "A talent for healing then?"

I shook my head, "Not quite, his magic mixed with the talent allows him to do some pretty unique things. If you fight us, he's more likely to off himself than work under somebody else. Which means no actual healing for anyone. While my fire is decent at healing, I can't exactly regrow limbs or heal black blood."

Kobe nodded slowly, "What guarantee do I have that you won't try to steal my men with the promise of healing their families or themselves?"

"Besides the fact that we planned on growing very big without your men, and won't really need extra hands? Not much, honestly. We both need a little trust in each other to make this kind of agreement work. Offering to heal a few of your men, or their families should be used to make them more loyal to you since we're healing people under you because we're working together."

Kobe cracked a smile at that, "I see, my gang has access to a superb healer in exchange for certain members getting bonuses in the form of healing. How many of my men are you willing to fix exactly?"

I smiled back at him, "Just one or two a day. Really depends on how our boss feels, since it can't be forced. We'll contact you with Carter, to let you know if he's feeling up to it. Though naturally our boss won't meet you in person. He's much more interested in the Underneath and what might be down there."

Kobe gave a small nod, "I see, so he wants to expand into the Underneath and use the Underground as a place to resupply and rest. Our goals do align, since that could push back any breaks and make the place safer. What dead-zones are you guys going into?"

I smirked, "The West side. We're uniting the tribes under Cheshire."

Kobe's eyes went wide, "The Tribes!? Do you understand how much food you need to do that? Look kid, I get that your boss is a great healer, but how do you expect to feed all of them?"

I shrugged, "That's for us to worry about. We already made them a couple promises, and as you saw with Carter, we plan on following through."

Kobe put his massive hands on his armrests, leaning forward, "That's not good enough, you're playing with lives now. I would have let it slide if it were the gangs of the South, or even the Southeast where the Raven used to be. Our borders will be right up against each other, and I have a very keen interest on the well-being of those tribes." He glared down at me.

I returned the look, "I know, but they are starving and barely scraping by, even with Cheshire doing all he can. All it takes is one little slip up and suddenly they need to rely on you more. I know you have food stored, waiting for that to happen. You're as prepared as you can be, but even you didn't expect the food prices this year. We're not taking over the tribes, but uniting them under Cheshire, and providing them with food. They will have some loyalty towards us, but they won't be a part of our gang."

Kobe simmered down, his tail twitching impatiently. "I take it Cheshire is aware of your plans already? I was told that you were scouted by the Fiend's Eye, to be taken on as hired help." He raised a hand, and immediately everyone around us got up and left. Once they were gone, Kobe continued. "What are your plans with that."

I grinned at him, "There are phases for our plan, and the Fiend's Eye is in the way. A gang run by monsters, that pits other smaller gangs against each other, while also pulling the strings behind the scenes. After we're done I'll have all the evidence to back up any transgression they made against you. How they pitted you and the Raven against each other, and even how they are directly responsible for weakening some of your key members in the past."

Kobe stroked his goatee, "You're telling me this, knowing that I won't make a move against them right?" I nodded in response, "Are you aware of the raid I'm actually planning to have done tomorrow?" I hesitated for a moment, but Mimi let me know that she knew. I finally shook my head. Kobe continued, "You'll find out then, one of my champions will be going to a warehouse with my banner. They will be under orders to attack both your gang, and the Fiend's Eye for letting that creature into my Arena, and lying about their magic. I won't tell you which one."

I nodded, "That's fine, I'll order our men to not attack yours, that warehouse is yours already as far as we are concerned. In fact that's better since if they find some evidence it makes our attack against them, retribution on your behalf. Not that you need it, but it is a step to show we want to aid you."

Kobe nodded his head, "You won't get anything for it, just so you know."

I shrugged, "We don't need anything, just the promise that you won't attack the tribes when they are banded together. The attack tomorrow will leave us weak, and we'll potentially struggle to provide food for them after all that is said and done. Because of that, we need peace so we can do our job. When we secure all the dead-zones to the West, we plan on taking a well deserved rest for a few months."

Kobe laughed and let out another snort, "A well deserved rest indeed! You'll have it if you bring me evidence against the Fiend's Eye, and I'll consider your little gang, the tribes, and my own to be allied. I'll let you heal my men at the pace your boss is comfortable with, and we'll work together to make the Underground safer."

I raised a fist, "Not just the Underground." I smirked, pointing at the ceiling, "We're going to make the whole damn kingdom better."

Kobe blinked, before grinning at me, "I see, our goals really do align then. Enough, prove to me that you can fulfill your promises. Win this Arena, and make your moves. I will be watching with interest."

I gave a slight bow, "Of course, just so you know Vivi will be here fighting by herself tomorrow for the monster corpses. I have other things to do, so just overlook me not being there."

Kobe winked, "Sure thing, just don't be upset if she dies."

I walked away, giving a shrug. "If she does, then she just isn't strong enough. I look forward to talking to you again Kobe." Holy shit, I pulled it off! Mimi congratulated me, while we walked back to where we were supposed to be. Just a couple more battles, and it seems that Levi and Jordan are about to start their match.